Blog article by Michelle Schlegel

Last month, I was wandering through a nursery, knowing that I usually get myself in trouble looking at the plants. Looking at all the vegetables, I came across a Cucamelon. What is that, I thought?  I’ve never seen or heard of these! 

A Cucamelon (Melothria scabra) is native to Mexico and Central America, and they require full sun and love the heat of summer. I have found that regular watering is preferred along with rich soil. Several websites say that this plant is from a tuber.  When I planted this, I was careful not to disturb the root ball, so it will be interesting to see how it turns out at the end of the season. Saving a tuber for next year might be easier than trying to start seeds.

I have this in a large pot with a trellis for it to climb on. In just a few weeks, it has covered the trellis and is producing tons of adorable, miniature watermelon-like cucumbers. They taste like a crunchy cucumber with a touch of a sour flavor. They are a fun and unexpected addition to salads. I am also thinking of pickling them. I hope you try them yourselves!